Coal gasification offers one of the most versatile and clean ways to convert coal into electricity, hydrogen, and other valuable energy products.
Coal Gasification Process
The coal gasification process begins with the gasifier. The coal feedstock is fed into the gasifier. Inside the gasifier, the coal is exposed to intense heat, oxygen and steam. However, the levels of oxygen are tightly controlled inside the gasifier. The levels of oxygen can run as high as 99 percent. These high levels of oxygen help to enable the “partial oxidation” process that occurs. Instead of burning, the coal is broken apart and the result is what is called syngas. Syngas is a usually composed of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, though other gases can occur depending on the coal composition. The portions of coal which are not transformed into syngas may become a slag material that resembles glass, sulfur byproducts or ammonia. There is also some ash formed in the gasifier which is removed later in the process.
IGCC
Some coal gasification plants use Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle (IGCC) systems. In IGCC systems the sulfur byproducts and ammonia are put to use. These byproducts from the gasifier are used as fuel for a combustion turbine. This turbine is used as part of an electric generator. The waste heat from this process is used to heat the water for a steam driven turbine. This two turbine system is referred to as a combined cycle. Combined cycle systems like this are used commercially and achieve relatively high efficiency. Typically, the efficiency is around 40 percent. The real advantage of the higher efficiency is that it requires less fuel to produce equivalent or better results than more conventional coal plants.
Worldwide there are just four integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plants running on coal today: one in Puertollano, Spain, one in Buggenum, Netherlands, one near Terre Haute, Indiana, and one in Polk County, Florida.
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Coal Gasification Process|Coal Gas|Coal Application
Coal Gasification Process
Coal gasification offers one of the most versatile and clean ways to convert coal into electricity, hydrogen, and other valuable energy products.
Coal Gasification Process
The coal gasification process begins with the gasifier. The coal feedstock is fed into the gasifier. Inside the gasifier, the coal is exposed to intense heat, oxygen and steam. However, the levels of oxygen are tightly controlled inside the gasifier. The levels of oxygen can run as high as 99 percent. These high levels of oxygen help to enable the “partial oxidation” process that occurs. Instead of burning, the coal is broken apart and the result is what is called syngas. Syngas is a usually composed of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, though other gases can occur depending on the coal composition. The portions of coal which are not transformed into syngas may become a slag material that resembles glass, sulfur byproducts or ammonia. There is also some ash formed in the gasifier which is removed later in the process.
IGCC
Some coal gasification plants use Integrated Gasification Combined-Cycle (IGCC) systems. In IGCC systems the sulfur byproducts and ammonia are put to use. These byproducts from the gasifier are used as fuel for a combustion turbine. This turbine is used as part of an electric generator. The waste heat from this process is used to heat the water for a steam driven turbine. This two turbine system is referred to as a combined cycle. Combined cycle systems like this are used commercially and achieve relatively high efficiency. Typically, the efficiency is around 40 percent. The real advantage of the higher efficiency is that it requires less fuel to produce equivalent or better results than more conventional coal plants.
Worldwide there are just four integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plants running on coal today: one in Puertollano, Spain, one in Buggenum, Netherlands, one near Terre Haute, Indiana, and one in Polk County, Florida.